Category Archives: Boiler Finance Plans

The cost of a new boiler

Powering your boiler and central heating system efficiently is one of the most important factors of home life. The cost of a new boiler can also be expensive if you don’t get sound advice. Here we provide a few tips to help you choose the best boiler at the right price.

How much will a new boiler cost?

Whatever way you look at it a new boiler is going to cost you money. However if you’re careful and do it the right way you can make sure that you don’t pay any more than you have to.

If you use one of the larger energy companies like British Gas you may be charged over the odds for the cost of a new boiler.

It is important to shop around and check what deals and offers are available in your area. Many local installers now offer a variety of low interest finance options which can mean a substantial reduction in the cost of getting a new boiler fitted.

How much should I expect to pay?The price of getting a new boiler installed depends on the size and type of your property. Boilers come in a range of sizes. The kw output of a gas boiler needed to heat a 5 bedroom detached house will not be needed to heat a one bedroom flat for example.

Therefore it is best to get advice from a Gas Safe approved engineer who will advise you on the type of boiler required to heat your home and any additional pipes / wiring work that may be required.

Choosing the right boiler

Choosing a new boiler for your home normally boils down to a choice between a regular boiler or a combi boiler . They both function in different ways. The type of boiler most suited to your home will depend on a number of factors including

type and size of property

number of bathrooms

hot water usage levels

Conventional boilers

A regular or conventional boiler stores hot water in a storage tank or cylinder (normally in your loft or cupboard) which then provides water for your hot taps and radiators.

They normally come with an electric immersion heater and if your boiler system is older, the chances are that it will be this type.

Conventional boiler systems require storage space and can be inconvenient as you have to heat up all the water in the tank even if you only need to use a small amount.

This can be quite expensive – as much as 65% of energy costs are used to heat your boiler for hot water or your radiators. Excessive energy usage is also damaging to the environment in terms of carbon emission output levels.

Energy Efficiency

The diagram shows the range of traditional energy grades for conventional boilers and central heating systems.

Energy Performance Certificate

The body which determines a boiler’s energy efficiency rating in the UK is SEDBUK (Season Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK).

All gas condensing boilers function at over 90% efficiency, This is also the mandatory level for any new boiler installed in the UK.

Boiler ratings are assessed by a domestic energy assessor. Boiler and central heating contributes to the overall energy performance of your property and is included in any Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Report.
Efficiency is measured as a percentage although the European Grading method (A-G according to energy usage performance) is also often included for consistency.

The energy efficiency of gas boilers is assessed on a variety of factors including –

Seasonal conditions

Heating usage patterns

Housing occupancy at the time of installation

Boiler storage conditions

Boiler Location

Boiler insulation

Other factors deemed to affect the energy efficiency of boilers such as climate and the age of a boiler are also taken into account when assessing a boiler’s performance.

The rating system is designed to be a fair and accurate method of determining boiler efficiency, regardless of manufacturer.

Energy savings

Want to know how much you can save each year by replacing your boiler? The table below lists the average annual savings by property type when you upgrade to a more efficient boiler.

Larger homes will benefit more from reduced energy bills after installing a cost effective high efficiency boiler.

Boiler Type

Boiler
Efficiency

Flat

Semi-detached

Detached

Condensing A Grade Boiler

99%

£186

£270

£368

Heavy weight

55%

£308

£458

£634

Light weight

65%

£266

£393

£542

Comparison of typical A rated condensing boiler compared to older less efficient boilers in average properties

Free boiler grant scheme

Some low income households can access Government funding to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes.